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Capitalism Quotes

Browse 2965 quotes about Capitalism.

Capitalism Quotes

“The world runs on individuals pursuing their self interests. The great achievements of civilization have not come from government bureaus. Einstein didn't construct his theory under order from a bureaucrat. Henry Ford didn't revolutionize the automobile industry that way.”

“Is it really true that political self-interest is nobler somehow than economic self-interest?”

Self Political Interest Economic Capitalism Self Interest Really True

Author:Milton Friedman

“The dynamo of our economic system is self-interest which may range from mere petty greed to admirable types of self-expression.”

May Self Interest Economic Expression Type Capitalism Mere Greed Range Petty Self Interest Admirable Self Expression Economic Systems

Author:Felix Frankfurter

“Capitalism has destroyed our belief in any effective power but that of self interest backed by force. But even Capitalist cynicism will admit that however unconscionable we may be when our own interests are affected, we can be most indignantly virtuous at the expense of others.”

May Self Belief Force Interest Capitalism Destroyed Expenses Affected Capitalist Cynicism Virtuous Self Interest

Author:George Bernard Shaw

“The genius of capitalism lies in its ability to make self-interest serve the wider interest. The potential of a big financial return for innovation unleashes a broad set of talented people in pursuit of many different discoveries. This system, driven by self-interest, is responsible for the incredible innovations that have improved so many lives.”

People Different Self Bigs Lying Interest Ability Business Return Genius Discovery Capitalism Innovation Responsible Incredibles Financial Driven Pursuit Broads Self Interest

Author:Bill Gates

“As I see it, there are two great forces of human nature: self-interest, and caring for others. Capitalism harnesses self-interest in a helpful and sustainable way, but only on behalf of those who can pay. Government aid and philanthropy channel our caring for those who can't pay. But to provide rapid improvement for the poor we need a system that draws in innovators and businesses in a far better way than we do today.”

“Here's what I do believe very strongly: that once capitalism comes into existence, once it creates this mythology of a stingy nature, then that myth has to be exorcised. In other words, we have to get out of people's heads the idea that without a market economy, without egotism, competition, rivalry and self-interest, without all the technological advances that [Karl] Marx imputed to capitalism, we have to eliminate the feeling that we would sink into some kind of barbarism.”

“With the rise of capitalism, it became more obvious that people pursue individual self-interest. The great nationalist in Italy, Giuseppe Mazzini, a wonderful philosopher, said that we need the nation. We need something that people can lean on, from which they can then reach out to the whole world. The idea of all humanity is too vague. It can't motivate human aspiration in a reliable way.”

“That's how we slide, and while we slide we blame the world's problems on colonialism, imperialism, capitalism, corporatism, stupid white men, and America, but there's no need to make a brand name of blame. Individual self-interest: that's the source of our descent, and it doesn't start in the boardrooms or the war rooms either. It starts in the home.”

Source: A Fraction of the Whole

“A commercial civilization is money-oriented, profit-oriented. Commercial values always tend to wrench a society free of tradition.Economics from education to public service is being reorganized on the self-destructive basis of self-interest.”

Self Values Interest Civilization Capitalism Economics Tradition Bases Profit Destructive Self Interest Public Service Self Destructive Wrenches

Author:John Ralston Saul

“Creative capitalism takes this interest in the fortunes of others and ties it to our interest in our own fortunes in ways that help advance both. This hybrid engine of self-interest and concern for others can serve a much wider circle of people than can be reached by self-interest or caring alone.”

People Way Self Helping Interest Creative Capitalism Concern Fortune Investing Caring Circles Ties Engines Self Interest Hybrid Concern For Others

Author:Bill Gates

“Capitalism is based on self-interest and self-esteem; it holds integrity and trustworthiness as cardinal virtues and makes them pay off in the marketplace, thus demanding that men survive by means of virtue, not vices. It is this superlatively moral system that the welfare statists propose to improve upon by means of preventative law, snooping bureaucrats, and the chronic goad of fear.”

Men Mean Self Law Interest Pay Moral Virtue Self Esteem Integrity Capitalism Vices Esteem Welfare Self Interest Propose Marketplace Bureaucrats Cardinals Trustworthiness Snooping

Author:Alan Greenspan

“Prior to the advent of the civilization of the Third Estate (mercantilism, capitalism), the social ethics that was religiously sanctioned in the West consisted in realizing one’s being and in achieving one’s own perfection within the fixed parameters that one’s individual nature and the group to which one belonged clearly defined. Economic activity, work, and profit were justified only in the measure in which they were necessary for sustenance and to ensure the dignity of an existence conformed to one’s own estate, without the lower instinct of self-interest or profit coming first.”

“The very essence of capitalism is under threat as business is now seen as a personal wealth accumulator. We have to bring this world back to sanity and put the greater good ahead of self-interest. We need to fight very hard to create an environment out there that is more long term focussed and move away from short termism.”

World Needs Long Self Hard Moving Fighting Term Interest Wealth Environment Greater This World Capitalism Essence Threat Long Term Sanity Short Term Self Interest Greater Good Personal Wealth

Author:Paul Polman

“We need to graduate from the ridiculous notion that greed is some kind of elixir for capitalism - it's the downfall of capitalism. Self-interest, maybe, but self-interest run amok does not serve anyone. The core value of conscious capitalism is enlightened self-interest. As Jim Cramer on CNBC says, "Bulls make money, bears make money, pigs get slaughtered."”